A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is directly between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun’s rays and casting a shadow on the moon. As the moon moves deeper and deeper into Earth’s shadow, the moon changes color before your very eyes, turning from gray to an orange or deep shade of red.

The moon takes on this new color because sunlight is still able to pass through Earth’s atmosphere and cast a glow on the moon.

We have complied a set of pictures taken by people who were there to witness it. Meanwhile, the next lunar eclipse will occur on April 15, 2014.